"BABALIK na lang kami mamaya o bukas ng umaga. I still have to talk to the Task Force department about this. Kailangan nating imbestigahan iyong araw na na-extract ang dogtag ni Apollo. Nang sumabog ang mga bomba noon, it had a catastrophic aftermath. It had the largest scale. Lahat nasira, walang nakaligtas."
Napayuko ako sa sinabi ni General Torres. Nasa sala kami ngayon. Pinag-uusapan namin ngayon si Valente. It felt like a dream, but it isn't. I tried to kiss his cheek earlier, and I did it. My lips felt his skin.
"The ashes cannot be recognized. That's why his dogtag was the only proof. Now before the explosion, nobody knew what really happened. At kung bakit ngayon, nandito si Apollo, buhay na buhay. He's not dead. He survived."
Napatingin ako sa palad ko. Hawak-hawak ko ngayon ang dogtag ni Valente na ibinigay sa akin noon. If it wasn't for my kids, I could have killed myself. I felt like dying during that time. I wanted to die.
"Someone must have helped my brother get out of that place before the bombs exploded. Imposibleng nakaalis siya mag-isa. Unless Apollo was lying to us all along. Pero hindi iyon magagawa ng kapatid ko. May bumalik para sa kaniya. O may nakakuha sa kaniya."
"There's only one way to find out. And it is to talk to the man himself. Hihintayin nating magising si Apollo."
"But I suggest na huwag natin siyang bibiglain. Let him adjust. Hindi natin alam ang mga pinagdaanan niya."
"Nadia," Napalingon ako sa heneral nang tawagin niya ako. "Alam ko na kahit hindi ako magsabi sa iyo ay gagawin mo pa rin ito. I want to ask you a favor."
"What favor po?" I asked.
"Help my nephew. Hindi natin alam kung anong gagawin niya pagkagising, pero mas lalong hindi natin alam ang estado niya ngayon. Annie already checked him and he has a fever. We should still be ready for any violent reactions from him."
Dahan-dahan akong tumango.
"It's been three years. Alam kong kahit sino sa atin dito ay hindi rin makapaniwala na babalik siya. But above all, as much as we should be thankful, we should be vigilant as well. Paano kung kalaban pala iyan na ginaya lang ang mukha ni Apollo? Napatalsik na ang Guerilla pero hindi pa rin sila tapos."
Tila sumikip ang dibdib ko roon. Nasaktan ako sa sinabi ni general. Na baka hindi totoong Valente ang kasama namin ngayon at pagpapanggap lang lahat ang nangyayari.
Masakit isipin.
"Anyway, I have to leave. Kion, please stay with Nadia and my grandchildren as much as possible. Puwedeng dito muna kayo nina Deon. We are not still sure about the man inside the room. Kung si Apollo nga ba siya, o hindi. You all need to stay safe."
Tumayo na si General Torres at sinilip ang wristwatch niya. "I'm running late. I'll be back. Mag-iingat kayo."
"Ingat rin po kayo."
"Ingat ka, uncle."
Nakaalis na ang heneral. We heard his car's engine vroomed away. Naiwan kami nina ate Annie, kuya Luke, at Kion. Ang kambal ko ay nasa kuwarto nila, kasama sina Jade at Deon.
"Tatlong taon..."
Napatingin kami sa doktora.
"Three years and he only came back now. Where has he been during those years? Bakit ngayon lang siya bumalik?"
"No one knows, Annie. And no one will until your brother wakes up. Hindi tayo dapat magpadalos-dalos. Tama si General Torres. We have to be vigilant and observant. Hindi natin alam kung si Santiago nga ba ang kasama natin ngayon, o isang huwad lang."
BINABASA MO ANG
Task Force Trilogy #1: Bullet
RomansAurora Nadia Valencia, a simple woman who has a passion for teaching and a woman who lives in a simple home, near the woods. She's contented, comfortable, not until a conflict between two groups in the country broke out. She's been living almost wit...
